Unusual atmosphere at Croke Park today!

It was a little bit unusual watching the Republic of Ireland exit Euro 2016 earlier today from a vantage point in the media centre / press box in Croke Park where the GAA flashed the second-half of the game on the big screens at either end of the ground.

There wasn't exactly a huge crowd in the stadium for the occasion, but with the soccer clock ticking towards 93 minutes there was the spectacle of Westmeath running out on to the pristine pitch to almost total silence, apart from the theme over the public address that greeted Kildare a few minutes later.

An almost desetrted Hill 16 contributed to an eerie sort of atmosphere in the 80,000 plus capacity stadium.

It's highly probable that by the time Meath and Dublin run out later this evening at around 6.15pm that the ghostly atmosphere will have been replaced by a packed Hill 16 and well-populated stands and the popular chant – “come on you boys in green” - sung with such gusto last night for Meath's Christy Ring Cup victory, will be aired again by the Royal County supporters.

Meath recorded a double at Croke Park yesterday and will be bidding to make it a hat-trick by around 8pm this evening.

Will you be there – you still have time to make the trip?